Tag: Birds

Posted on in Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom, Worship

All the Glory

I am so thankful for how God chooses to bless us and help us. Whether our day goes as planned or not, He still reigns. As long as we seek His input and aim to glorify Him, we will be on the right path. It can look different everyday, however!

Yesterday morning, I woke up with a certain set of tasks and goals but needed to switch it up as the day progressed. For instance, I grabbed my rain jacket to deal with some light rain on my way to work. I got moderately wet on my walk inside, but I didn’t mind too much. I knew, later in the afternoon, it would be nearly eighty degrees!

During my work day, I altered my plans based on how the day presented. I got some of my work done and fielded some calls and questions, too. Even though I didn’t complete all my original tasks, I tied up some loose ends and felt good about my work.

Yesterday afternoon was quite warm indeed! It was beautiful and sunny after the rain left. On my way to pick up Lydia and run some errands after work, I saw yards with tons of dandelions and yards without. I saw beautiful crabapple trees and tulips, too! I also heard various songbirds, which is one of my favorite sounds. 

Along the way, I was overwhelmed with gratitude in this current season. I appreciated the weather, but also the freedom we have to do what we need to do and enjoy life (despite various pandemic protocols). Regardless of our circumstances, God is so good!

I kept thinking about how wonderful it is that God is with us and in us and still above it all. Soon, I rolled down the windows and quietly sang the first song that came to mind: Holy, Holy, Holy.

No matter what we are doing, every moment is a great moment to praise God!

After I picked up Lydia, she showed me TWO four-leaf clovers. I don’t think I have ever found any, and she has already found several (including the ones from yesterday)! She was calm yet happy, as she had been looking for a few days. Something so simple made her feel proud of herself. Her diligence paid off!

Even though our days were different, we each were able to honor God in our own ways. I was able to praise God in the moment and on-the-go. Lydia was able to apply patience and focus to find something God created. Everything we do can honor Him!

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God, thanks for helping us each day. Thanks for taking such good care of us. Help us live for You and give You glory in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How has your week been going? Have you been able to see God at work around you? How can you give Him glory and praise?

Tasks: Wherever you find yourself this week, take a few moments and reflect on God’s goodness. Praise Him for His faithfulness!

 

 

Posted on in Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Finding Grace #212

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week felt smoother than last week! This week, I received some solid answers about Lydia’s child care, in that they will continue offering services. I am really thankful for their efforts to provide continuity of care. I am also grateful for God’s provision while I work.

The week started off with gray skies but turned out sunny and bright. With Jesus, we are never without HOPE!! Lydia and I saw several birds this week, including a robin, a sparrow, and several geese. Thank You, Lord!

On Thursday night, I was also able to video chat with some ladies in my small group from church. It was fun to see parts of everyone’s houses and hear how they are coping. I’m grateful we can support each other through prayer and encouragement.

One afternoon, Lydia and I saw our neighbors outside enjoying the relatively warm weather. It has been a while since we connected, so we took the opportunity to catch up with them (from ~6 feet away!). It was fun and felt at least a little more like normal!

Because we canceled plans to visit family in Illinois, we switched gears and decided to meet virtually. Last night, we met with everyone online via Zoom! Although we were in four states and two timezones, we had a fun time laughing and visiting for ~two hours!

This week, Lydia was able to do some practice school work online. Her actual coursework will resume online next week. It will be an adjustment, perhaps, but I am glad for this option. Really, it adds another layer of resiliency for our school district! We will get through this together, and I bet many of the kids will remember this as a positive time!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

The Sun Will Come Out

I hope you are doing well during this time of social distancing!

Not too long ago, Lydia wanted to watch the movie, Annie. We haven’t gotten around to it just yet, but it is a classic. Then, yesterday, I woke up to foggy, gray skies, and the song, “Tomorrow,” came to mind and filled me with hope.

When I’m stuck a with day
That’s gray, and lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And Grin, and say,
Oh

The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
‘Til tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow, tomorrow
I love ya tomorrow
You’re always a day away

Our present trials (however drastic) are temporary. Although it can feel inconvenient and scary at times, there are many positive things about this quarantine situation.

In fact, a friend of mine likened it to a Sabbath opportunity. Instead of “we have to” we can say “we get to” stay home and enjoy time with family. This forced rest period can be a blessing if we choose to see it that way.

We can grow through adversity, and this situation is still better than most. For example, we are being asked to stay in the comforts of our own homes. Netflix and chill.

Sure, we’ll miss out on our plans, and need to make some sacrifices and adjustments. Yes, it may feel extreme and uncomfortable, but we can do this. After all, this is not war.

Working with Veterans, I see the after-effects of war every week. Quarantine is far better. I’m thankful we can do our part with relative ease.

My grandparents were all part of the Greatest Generation. My grandfathers fought in World War II, and my English grandmother was a war bride. Growing up in Co. Durham, in Northern England, she always said it was a ‘good day’ if they didn’t get bombed. There was the constant threat. Not to mention rations and soldiers going off to war.

Perspective.

Of course, no one knows how long this need for social distancing and quarantine will last. It is hard to see how much difference is made by staying home. In fact, if the coronavirus is contained, it will feel like nothing is happening.

At times, doing the right thing is somewhat boring. But, if “nothing happens,” that’s good! In these uncertain times, a little common sense and a cheerful heart go a long way.

What good can we find in all of this? I have seen resilience and unity and kindness. Hearts in windows, strangers smiling and helping each other. Kids staying calm.

Of course, we are not left on our own. God is right here with us, enabling us to handle these unusual circumstances with grace. We can count on Him!

Stand firm. Stay strong. Don’t give up!

Lydia and I heard the first of many songbirds chirping this week. We have also seen some geese and a spider. I even saw some green grass peeking out from under the snow. 🙂 If we were rushing around like usual, we would have missed these sure signs of spring.

Yes, despite some challenges ahead, we have so much to be thankful for.

We don’t have to be afraid. God is still on His throne. The sun will come out again. After all, God always brings the spring. And, He brings the summer too!

Indeed, we can look forward to greater things. The best is yet to come!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for taking such good care of us. Please give us wisdom, direction, and peace during this time. Help us rely on Your grace and extend it to others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you coping well or do you find social distancing more challenging than expected? How can you make it easier on yourself and others?

Tasks: Social distancing does not mean emotional distance or the end of relationships. Use this time to connect with others via online platforms and video chats! Reach out to your neighbors; perhaps you can help them in creative ways!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Prayer, Worship

Finding Grace #203

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week was rather low-key, but I am glad for that because I was able to focus on a big project. This week, I had some great moments of worshiping the Lord. And, there were plenty of other fun blessings along the way!

I appreciate Lydia’s current interest in cooking and helping around the house. She selected a healthy recipe all on her own, and we made it together. Later, I went to the store, for fun, and I “surprised” her very own cans of kidney beans, raisins, and dried cranberries. Lydia was so excited! She said they are her favorite, so who am I to disappoint?! I’m glad she is learning to be content.

The ladies in my small group Bible study came over this week. Only two ladies could come, but we still had a wonderful time together. We discussed our Bible reading plan and challenged each other to draw near to the Lord. It was such a sweet time of fellowship and prayer, made sweeter by an apple crisp my neighbor gave me! Thank you!

I had fun catching up with my parents and sister this week. My mom sent me a beautiful green Kate Spade purse, which reminds me of spring! I have already received compliments on it. In turn, I sent a box of items to bless my sister. Also, my dad finally received his birthday present from Lydia and me. His birthday is in December, but the socks I ordered for him (with Lydia’s face) took forever to arrive! In fact, he still has something else on the way. Hopefully, it comes soon!

When I was at the store earlier in the week, I was meandering through the floral department looking for anything that caught my eye. I didn’t buy any flowers that day, but I did see a cute little yellow bird! As you can see in the picture above, it is so cheery and bright! I didn’t see any others, but it felt like a personal blessing from God!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom, Worship

Finding Grace #199

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week we enjoyed celebrating Jesus’ birthday! He really is the perfect gift! We enjoyed the Christmas Eve service at church and also joined another family for dinner on Tuesday. Then, we spent Christmas day at home. We talked with family and received so many wonderful gifts! Thank you!!

I worked on Monday but have had the rest of the week off. Lydia and I ran some errands this week and have enjoyed spending lots of time together! We have baked treats and played a ton of new games.

Lydia has really ‘grown up’ this week before my eyes. First, Lydia opted to put the Christmas money she received in her savings account. Then, we had some intense discussions about all sorts of topics, including body image, accepting our perceived flaws, and being who God made us to be. I was hoping these topics wouldn’t come up so soon, but I felt God directing our conversations. Lydia calmed herself down and considered what I was saying as I helped reframe her concerns. Thanks, Lord!

This week, Lydia decided she actually does like to eat bell peppers. She also made herself breakfast (toast, etc.) and lunch (which included salad). Then, she read an abridged children’s version of Moby Dick and was happy to discover a new-to-her genre of classic literature. It was fun to watch her engage with the story. Thankfully, I bought her a handful of these books over the summer and she has several more days off school!

On Thursday, Lydia also volunteered to help me shovel snow and did a fabulous job. Then, we had fun sledding in the lot behind our house! We stayed outside for over an hour and then came in and enjoyed some hot chocolate. Later, we upgraded Lydia’s closet to bigger hangers and donated some clothes that were too small for her.

Today Lydia and I enjoyed the snowy weather! She started a new book (Journey to the Center of the Earth, abridged) while I “hiked” in Austria on my treadmill! Then, this afternoon, a friend came to visit and we introduced them to several of our new games. The extra player made everything a lot more fun and competitive! We will be laughing about that for quite a while. Tonight, we are watching another movie or two. It’s been a full week!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

Singing in the Rain

Usually, by this time in July, my grass is crispy and brown. But this summer, we’ve had more consistent rain. We’ve had some big thunderstorms lately, and the grass is still green!

One day last week, I woke up to a gentle rain pounding on the roof. It was still early enough that I could have slept more, but I kept listening to the rain instead.

As I thanked God for the new day, I heard a little bird singing in the rain!

What a cool surprise! Between the rain and my excitement about the little bird, I couldn’t sleep anymore. The bird caught my attention because it chose to sing instead of retreat.

The steadfast song really made my day. I don’t know if the bird expected the storm or if it caught him by surprise. But, I’m sure it thrilled God’s heart to hear him sing his heart out!

We have a similar choice to make.

When storms come, we can retreat into our comfort zone. Or, we can look beyond our difficulties and sing about God’s faithfulness and goodness.

Singing in the rain and stepping into uncertainty is not for the faint of heart. It takes a fair amount of grit to persevere. In fact, many of the beloved old hymns were written out of excruciating heartache. Despite all odds, these famous songs are filled with the truth of God’s loyal love.

For example, the author of “It Is Well with My Soul” suffered great loss including the death of five of his children. The song was his response to the painful tragedy. Powerful.

The author of “Amazing Grace” also recorded his thoughts and feelings of gratitude after God saved him from a life of sin and disgrace.

There is freedom when we see storms of life as opportunities to sing and shine for God. We release ourselves to God’s care and shift the burden back to Him, where it belongs. Then, He gets the glory for what happens next.

Peace comes when we realize we don’t have to figure out all the details. God already knows what to do. He is more than capable, and His mercies are new every morning.

God is worthy of our praise no matter what circumstances we’re facing. He is faithful and true. So come as you are… He longs to be with us, help us, and show us His loyal love.

Rest assured… it’s okay if you can barely carry a tune! All of us can still make a joyful noise. Let’s use whatever gifts we have and praise the Lord. 🙂

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Heavenly Father, thanks for your mercy and grace! We have so much to be thankful for, despite life’s challenges. Open our eyes so we can see all of Your goodness. We’ll give You all the glory and praise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you a bird watcher? What can you praise God for today?

Tasks: Make a list of all you are grateful for, and start singing your praises! If you don’t know where to start, try Psalm 117.

 

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #171

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week we kept busy. We went to the local reading bus and also the school library. Lydia picked out 6 books and is done with five of them!

Lydia also attended Vacation Bible School (VBS) this week. The theme was “Life is Wild. God is good.” They talked about how God is still good when life gets crazy, changes, or gets difficult. Such an important message! She also enjoyed the music and crafts. I ran into two mom friends and had fun catching up briefly with them.

During VBS, I worked and had a couple of appointments. One of the appointments was a six-month follow-up for my eyes. After Lasik eye surgery in December, my eyes are doing well! I’m grateful!

We had beautiful weather this week. In my opinion, it was just about perfect! We spent time outside doing yard work, enjoying the pool, reading, and visiting with neighbors.

On Thursday, I had several ladies over for Bible study and fellowship. We really enjoyed great food and even better discussion! It’s an honor to host these dear friends.

Today, Lydia and I were blessed to see a new bird on our deck. It was a first for both of us! I researched the bird, and finally posted online for help. Turns out, it was a yellow-headed blackbird! I love seeing how creative God is!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #114

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week was awesome in so many ways! It felt so relaxing as I soaked up God’s grace!

This week was ‘clean up’ week where the garbage collectors take just about anything we leave on the curb. I put several items out early, including a foosball table, love seat, bicycle, electronics, and some flower pots. It was fun watch people stop by and our old things. I had a few good conversations with strangers and felt it was a win-win for everyone!

We had great weather this week, which included some rain. Sometimes it was warm and chilly all in the same fifteen minutes! Early in the week, we ate dinner with the neighbors and several of the kids stopped by to play ‘water buckets.’

This week, I visited two local parks near the Red River on the ND/MN border (see pic) while Lydia was in school. It was so refreshing! Then, today, Lydia and I went to a birding event and saw several cool birds (some I had never seen!). Some will stay in the area while many are migrating through!

Other highlights this week included chatting with a friend and winning a gift certificate to a local bakery. I also hung up the wind chimes we received as a memorial to Dave. It always makes me happy when Lydia calls the music from the chimes her “Daddy’s song.” She also lost another tooth this week…she is growing so fast!

Where did you find God’s grace this week?

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #110

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

As I reflect on God’s grace this week, I am filled with gratitude. It was a full week, and while we accomplished a lot, it didn’t seem too daunting. It was fun and relaxing!

This week was filled with creative pursuits! I tried a few new recipes, including a spaghetti sauce with no added sugar. I met some personal writing goals as well. This boost of creativity carried over to my dreams, too! I had several interesting dreams and slept very soundly! In one dream, I was trying to sell a house, but the house kept morphing between a tree house, brick house, and condo. Another dream revolved around politics and a circus… perhaps it mirrored real life in more than one way! 🙂

Perhaps my vivid dreams were also related to two intense audiobooks I finished. The books, If I Run, and, If I’m Found, by Terri Blackstock, kept me in suspense. I had to take a break at times to let the intensity subside, but both were very well-written. I have the audio version of the third book, If I Live, too. I hope to listen to it soon!

On Wednesday, I shared my story with a group of moms at my church. I always appreciate any opportunity to speak about God’s grace in my life. It is healing for me! Each of our personal stories has value. As we share our stories with each other, we are encouraged to embrace what God is doing in our lives. He is so good!

On Thursday, we took a tour of Lydia’s new school for next year. It was fun to see so many neighbors! We enjoyed learning about the school and meeting some of the staff. Everyone was friendly and Lydia should have a smooth transition in the fall.

We still have a decent amount of snow on the ground, but much of it melted this week. We were “supposed” to get more snow this weekend, but I think we will miss it. Many friends across the Midwest got hit instead… Thankfully, I saw a few more signs of spring. I saw the return of songbirds this week, including Mr. House Finch who serenaded me on Thursday and Friday! 🙂

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #57

I love the concept of giving God a shout out for what He has done.

We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot. I find grace overflowing in God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week was good overall! We enjoyed a birthday pool party for a little family friend on Monday. She was born about six weeks before Dave died, so she is quite special to us. We’ve enjoyed seeing her learn and grow over the years. It was fun catching up with her parents and older siblings as well.

We’ve had a beautiful week weather-wise! It was bright and sunny most days, and I happily wore shorts on a few occasions. On Thursday afternoon, I sat outside with a couple neighbors while our kids played together. A few other neighbor kids joined us for riding bikes and scooters, chalk on the sidewalk, snacks, running around, and other shenanigans. An exciting early start to summer!

One highlight of my week was enjoying the serenade of a little finch 3+ days in a row. At first, I thought he was a purple finch. However, later I decided he might be a house finch. Either way, he was red/brown and quite cute. He sang his heart out, without a care in the world! As I listened, I remembered God sees and cares for every detail of our lives.

Lastly, Lydia lost her first tooth! She diligently wiggled it all week and last night, just before bed, it came out. She was very proud of herself. We plan to get some frozen yogurt as a special treat to celebrate this milestone!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!